In the UK, businesses are starting to open up again. This means that some cafes and restaurants will eventually be able to open up and welcome customers outside for food and drinks. If you have never created an outdoor dining experience before, you may be puzzled and not know where to begin. Creating a pleasant outdoor setting is more than just placing tables and chairs outside. Here we have some tips on how you can offer a great dining experience outdoors for your customers.
Choose Functional Furniture
We all want the furniture to look good. But, when it comes to an outdoor dining experience, it has to be about practicality. In other words, you want to have functional furniture that is going to be easy to clean, as well as being waterproof. This type of durable and lasting furniture is going to be a better investment for your business. It is going to last for a while and withstand all weather conditions. What’s more, since hygiene standards are very important to customers at this moment in time, this type of furniture with ensure you adhere to guidelines and expectations.
Keep Birds Away
Wherever there is food, there are often birds nearby. They know where they are likely to find food and birds are going to be attracted to outdoor dining during the summer. This is something that you have to be aware of for a number of reasons. In particular, birds can bring disease and it can lower hygiene standards. In addition, they can make dining unpleasant for your customers. For example, they are known to swoop down and take leftover food that is on tables and lying on the ground.
You may be thinking; how can I keep birds away when I am offering outdoor dining? The good news is that there are a variety of affordable solutions to this problem. From anti-bird mesh to a post and wire system, you can contact a professional for their advice on how to keep birds away from your outdoor dining area. These are humane ways to ensure that your customers have a good time.
Offer Some Shade
Dining al fresco is fun during the summer. Everybody enjoys the warmer weather and longer daylight hours. But, not all customers are going to want to sit outside directly in the sunshine for a long time. If you do not provide shade for your customers, they may leave after one course. However, if you can accommodate them with a shaded spot to relax and catch up with loved ones, they are more likely to stay longer.
So, this means that you should provide some shade for your outdoor dining experience. You can purchase awnings that are going to attach to your buildings, as well as buy free-standing gazebos and canopies. This is going to shelter customers from the summer sun and provide shade. Let’s not forget that British weather can sometimes be unpredictable. So, this shelter is also going to be good against rain and wind.
Have Lights Up
Do you plan on allowing guests to dine during the evening? Then you are going to need to have some lights outside. This is going to allow your guests to see their meals, as well as create a relaxing atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. You can stick to candles on the table or go for overhead string lights. Either way, your guests are going to love the outdoor ambiance that can be created with some lights.
Choose Green Foliage
A lot of guests like to enjoy the outdoors and nature when they are dining. In other words, you want to make sure that there is some green foliage near to your seating area. This can add a lot of style to your outdoor dining experience, as well as offer some privacy between seating areas and screen away guests from busy roads and pathways. Just make sure that the foliage you choose does not attract bees and wasps during the summer. This is something that a lot of guests will not like.
Consider Outdoor Heaters
During the day in the summer, guests are going to be warm and comfortable dining outdoors. But, sometimes there are cold days and the evenings can get cool if your outdoor area is in the shade. Instead of losing customers, why not invest in some outdoor heaters? This is going to make sure everybody can be comfortable and enjoy their meal outdoors. A larger outdoor heater can cover an extensive area.
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